II

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1450

To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to convey a National Defense

Reserve Fleet vessel to the Glacier Society, Inc., of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 28, 1999

Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. LIEBERMAN) introduced the following bill;

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to convey a

National Defense Reserve Fleet vessel to the Glacier

Society, Inc., of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY NATIONAL DEFENSE

4 RESERVE FLEET VESSEL, GLACIER.

5 (a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY.—Notwithstanding any

6 other law, the Secretary of Transportation (in this section

7 referred to as ‘‘the Secretary’’) may, subject to subsection

8 (b), convey all right, title, and interest of the United

9 States Government in and to the vessel in the National
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1 Defense Reserve Fleet that was formerly the U.S.S. GLA2 CIER (United States official number AGB–4) to the Gla3 cier Society, Inc., a corporation established under the laws

4 of the State of Connecticut that is located in Bridgeport,

5 Connecticut (in this section referred to as the ‘‘recipient’’).

6 (b) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.—

7 (1) REQUIRED CONDITIONS.—The Secretary

8 may not convey a vessel under this section unless

9 the recipient—

10 (A) agrees to use the vessel for the pur11 pose of a monument to the accomplishments of

12 members of the Armed Forces of the United

13 States, civilians, scientists, and diplomats in ex14 ploration of the Arctic and the Antarctic;

15 (B) agrees that the vessel will not be used

16 for commercial purposes;

17 (C) agrees to make the vessel available to

18 the Government if the Secretary requires use of

19 the vessel by the Government for war or na20 tional emergency;

21 (D) agrees to hold the Government harm22 less for any claims arising from exposure to as23 bestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or lead paint

24 after the conveyance of the vessel, except for

25 claims arising from use of the vessel by the
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1 Government pursuant to the agreement under

2 subparagraph (C); and

3 (E) provides sufficient evidence to the Sec4 retary that it has available for use to restore

5 the vessel, in the form of cash, liquid assets, or

6 a written loan commitment, financial resources

7 of at least $100,000.

8 (2) DELIVERY OF VESSEL.—If the Secretary

9 conveys the vessel under this section, the Secretary

10 shall deliver the vessel—

11 (A) at the place where the vessel is located

12 on the date of conveyance;

13 (B) in its condition on that date; and

14 (C) at no cost to the United States Gov15 ernment.

16 (3) ADDITIONAL TERMS.—The Secretary may

17 require such additional terms in connection with the

18 conveyance authorized by this section as the Sec19 retary considers appropriate.

20 (c) OTHER UNNEEDED EQUIPMENT.—If the Sec21 retary conveys the vessel under this section, the Secretary

22 may also convey to the recipient any unneeded equipment

23 from other vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

24 or Government storage facilities for use to restore the ves-
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1 sel to museum quality or to its original configuration (or

2 both).

3 (d) RETENTION OF VESSEL IN NDRF.—The Sec4 retary shall retain in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

5 the vessel authorized to be conveyed under this section

6 until the earlier of—

7 (1) 2 years after the date of the enactment of

8 this Act; or

9 (2) the date of the conveyance of the vessel

10 under this section.

11 (e) EXEMPTION FROM PASSENGER SHIP INSPECTION

12 REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3302(l)(1) of title 46, United

13 States Code, shall apply with respect to the vessel upon

14 conveyance of the vessel under this section.

Æ